El Nino takes some luster off Sinatra golf tourney announcement

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998 | 10:23 a.m.

El Nino watered down a star-studded announcement Tuesday about the Frank Sinatra Las Vegas Celebrity Classic golf tournament scheduled for May 28-30 at Stallion Mountain Country Club in Las Vegas.

Frank Sinatra's wife, Barbara, was set to fly to Las Vegas from Los Angeles with a group of celebrities involved in the tournament including Paul Anka, Angie Dickinson, Quincy Jones and Gregory Peck.

Heavy rain, however, grounded the stars.

Entertainer Wayne Newton, co-host of the tournament, substituted for Barbara Sinatra at the ceremony held at noon at Piero's Restaurant.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this," Newton said.

"Many of Frank's roots are right here in the Nevada desert," Newton read from a prepared speech Barbara Sinatra was to make. "Frank and Vegas are both a natural. They have a lot in common, neither one of them hardly ever sleeps (however the desert is dry)."

In the statement, Barbara Sinatra noted that her husband is doing fine despite a visit to the hospital briefly last week for routine tests.

She said her husband is a committed humanitarian.

Proceeds from the tournament bearing the Sinatra name will go to the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center for Abused Children at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and to Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, an organization that trains and educates the mentally retarded.

The golf tournament, which will pair groupings of four amateurs with a celebrity, will be taped by ESPN for broadcast later this year.

Tony Renaud, head of ESPN Regional, said the sports network has been working with the Sinatras for several months.

"Frank Sinatra is synonymous with Las Vegas," Renaud said, "and he wanted to do it."

Sinatra has another golf tournament held in Palm Springs each year specifically for the Children's Center.

Renaud said the tournament will include two days of amateur-celebrity golf and a celebrity nine-hole skin game for a $50,000 purse on May 31.

There will be several social events during the tournament, including a black-tie affair May 30 at the MGM Grand produced by Quincy Jones.

Amateur players will meet celebrity players at a party to be held the evening of May 28 at the Desert Inn, where Frank Sinatra appeared in Las Vegas for the first time.

A party at the Hard Rock Cafe May 29 will honor Sinatra.

Renaud said there will be no cover charge for spectators at the golf tournament.

Golfers will pay $3,500 to enter the tournament. The fee also includes two reservations to the black-tie gala, tickets for all tournament activities and a tournament gift.

Corporate packages are available for $17,000, $30,000 and $50,000.

"In the coming weeks and months we will encourage Las Vegans to come out and be a part of our event," Renaud said.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority is a host of the tournament, which organizers say will be the first of an annual event.

"We are pleased to host the inaugural Frank Sinatra Las Vegas Celebrity Classic and look forward to bringing Las Vegas one of the most memorable and entertaining celebrity golf tournaments to date," said Manuel Cortez, president and chief executive officer of the authority.